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Chimneys Gloucester, Gloucestershire

Chimneys - Chimney Fires Gloucester

Chimney Fires

It's a known and unavoidable fact that dirty chimneys can
cause chimney fires, which damage structures, destroy homes and injure or kill
people.
Not all chimney fires burn explosively and therefore are not noisy and dramatic
enough to be detected by neighbours or passers-by. With proper care,
chimney fires are entirely preventable and your Chimney Cleaner engineer will
recommend an ideal cleaning schedule to ensure your chimney's safe upkeep. In
addition to keeping your chimney clean there are a few other things you can do
to prevent chimney fires:

Use
seasoned woods only (dryness is more important than the type of wood used)

Build smaller, hotter fires that bum more completely and produce less
smoke

Chimney fires burn at about 2000' F which in masonry chimneys can
melt the mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer
masonry material. Most often, tiles crack and mortar is displaced, which
provides a route for flames to reach the timbers of the house. In Pre-fabricated,
or metal lined chimneys, damage to these systems can still occur, usually in
the form of buckled or warped seams and joints. When pre-fabricated or metal
chimney liners are damaged by fire, they should no longer be used and must be
replaced.

Causes of Chimney Fires

Solid fuel stoves and fireplaces are designed to safely contain
and burn fuel, providing heat for your home. The chimneys that serve them have
the job of expelling the exhaust fumes and substances given off from the
burning fuel.

As these substances rise up the chimney and cool down, condensation occurs and
forms a residue that sticks to the chimney. Usually black or brown in
appearance, it is highly combustible and in sufficient quantities can catch
alight.

Certain conditions encourage the problem; restricted air supply, unseasoned
wood and cold chimney temperatures (especially external wall chimneys) are all
factors that can accelerate the build-up of flammable residues.
How to tell if you have suffered a chimney fire

Without proper inspection it's difficult to be certain your chimney has
suffered fire damage, there are a few signs a professional chimney sweep looks
for:

Puffy residue / creosote, with rainbow coloured streaks, that has
expanded beyond its normal form

Evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints of masonry or tile liners

What to do if you have a chimney fire

If you think your chimney may be on fire;

Get everybody out of the building

Call the fire brigade

If you can do so without risk to yourself, these additional steps may help save
your home;

Point a fire extinguisher into the fireplace or wood stove

Close the glass doors on the fireplace

Close the air inlets on the wood stove

Use a garden hose to spray down the roof (not the chimney) so the fire won't
spread to the rest of the structure

Roofing Gloucester years of experience in chimney lining mean we are
able to ensure we only use the best quality flexible stainless steel liners
available in order to guarantee a safe and long lasting chimney installation.

Our chimney surveyors are able to provide you with the most appropriate
flexible liner size and quality to meet your requirements.